David Foster biography, divorce, married

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<h2>Early Life and Musical Foundations</h2>
<p><a href="/biography/david-foster">David Walter Foster</a> was born on November 1, 1949, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. A renowned musician, record producer, songwriter, arranger, and composer, Foster began his musical journey early. At just 13 years old in 1963, he enrolled in the University of Washington’s music program. He later formed a local band in Victoria called The Strangers, with whom he moved to England before returning to Canada, where he played with Canadian <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Hawkins">rockabilly artist</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Hawkins">Ronnie Hawkins</a>.</p>

<h2>Breakthrough with Skylark and Transition to Los Angeles</h2>
<p>In 1974, Foster relocated to Los Angeles with his pop-rock band, Skylark. The group had gained attention with their 1973 hit single, “Wildflower.” After Skylark disbanded, Foster collaborated with fellow <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Graydon">musician</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Graydon">Jay Graydon</a> to form the band Airplay. During this period, he also expanded his studio work, contributing to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Harrison">George Harrison</a>’s albums <i>Extra Texture</i> (1975) and <i>Thirty Three & 1/3</i> (1976), playing instruments such as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes_piano">Fender Rhodes</a> and clavinet. In 1976, Foster also participated in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guthrie_Thomas">Guthrie Thomas</a>’s album <i>Lies and Alibis</i>, which featured guest appearances from artists including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringo_Starr">Ringo Starr</a>.</p>

<h2>Record Production Success and Grammy Recognition</h2>
<p>Foster’s reputation as a top-tier producer solidified with his work on Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1979 album <i>I Am</i>. His contributions to the song “After the Love Has Gone” earned him a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. In the early 1980s, Foster became a key figure in shaping the sound of the band Chicago. He produced three of their albums—<i>Chicago 16</i> (1982), <i>Chicago 17</i> (1984), and <i>Chicago 18</i> (1986)—and co-wrote several enduring hits including “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” (U.S. #1), “Love Me Tomorrow” (U.S. #22), “Stay the Night” (U.S. #16), and “You’re the Inspiration” (U.S. #3).</p>

<h2>Film Scores and Olympic Theme</h2>
<p>In addition to pop and R&B, Foster achieved success composing for film. His scores include <i>St. Elmo’s Fire</i> (1985), <i>The Secret of My Success</i> (1987), and contributions to <i>The Bodyguard</i> (1992) soundtrack, which produced numerous chart-topping hits. He also composed “Winter Games,” the official theme of the 1988 Winter Olympics held in Calgary, Alberta—a composition that became an iconic part of Olympic history.</p>

<h2>Foundation of 143 Records and Artist Development</h2>
<p>In 1995, Foster entered a joint venture with Warner Brothers to establish his boutique label, 143 Records. He sold the label back to Warner in 1997 and subsequently became a senior executive within the company. Under 143 Records, Foster played a critical role in launching the careers of several artists, including <a href="/biography/josh-groban">Josh Groban</a> (2001), <a href="/biography/michael-buble">Michael Bublé</a> (2003), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renee_Olstead">Renee Olstead</a> (2004), and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Zyrus">Charice</a> (2010). He also collaborated with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lara_Fabian">Lara Fabian</a> and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to record Canada’s national anthem, “O Canada,” in both English and French in 2001.</p>

<h2>Television Appearances and Philanthropy</h2>
<p>Throughout the 2000s, Foster increased his presence on television. He made appearances in the reality series <i>Popstars</i> (2001) and <i>The Princes of Malibu</i> (2005), and took part in musical competition shows including <i>American Idol</i> and <i>Nashville Star</i>. In 2006, he appeared as a vocal coach on <i>The View</i>. A PBS special titled <i>Hit Man: David Foster & Friends</i> aired in 2008, showcasing his influence in the music industry. In 2005, he co-wrote the anthem for “World Children’s Day” alongside <a href="/biography/beyonce">Beyoncé</a> and his daughter, contributing to an international effort to raise funds for children’s causes.</p>

<h2>Executive Roles and International Collaborations</h2>
<p>In 2011, Foster became Chairman of the Verve Music Group, furthering his role in shaping musical talent. His production of <a href="/biography/mary-j-blige">Mary J. Blige</a>’s holiday album <i>A Mary Christmas</i> (2013) and <a href="/biography/andrea-bocelli">Andrea Bocelli</a>’s <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passione_(Andrea_Bocelli_album)">Passione</a></i> (2013) illustrated his versatility across genres. In 2015, Foster joined the judging panel of <i>Asia’s Got Talent</i>. The following year, he stepped down from Verve, closing another chapter in his leadership within the record industry.</p>

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<h2>Discography</h2>
<p>Foster’s discography as a solo artist includes the following albums: <i>The Best of Me</i> (1984), <i>David Foster</i> (1986), <i>The Symphony Sessions</i> (1988), <i>Time Passing</i> (1989), <i>River of Love</i> (1990), <i>Rechordings</i> (1991), <i>The Christmas Album</i> (1993), <i>Love Lights the World</i> (1994), and <i>A Touch of China</i> (1996).</p>

<h2>Production Highlights and Collaboration with Top Artists</h2>
<p>Over his distinguished career, David Foster has won 16 Grammy Awards out of 47 nominations. He has worked with some of the music industry's most prominent names, including <a href="/biography/chaka-khan">Chaka Khan</a>, <a href="/biography/alice-cooper">Alice Cooper</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Aguilera">Christina Aguilera</a>, <a href="/biography/andrea-bocelli">Andrea Bocelli</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toni_Braxton">Toni Braxton</a>, <a href="/biography/michael-buble">Michael Bublé</a>, Chicago, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Cole">Natalie Cole</a>, <a href="/biography/celine-dion">Celine Dion</a>, <a href="/biography/kenny-g">Kenny G</a>, <a href="/biography/josh-groban">Josh Groban</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandy_Norwood">Brandy Norwood</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Houston">Whitney Houston</a>, <a href="/biography/jennifer-lopez">Jennifer Lopez</a>, <a href="/biography/kenny-rogers">Kenny Rogers</a>, Seal, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Stewart">Rod Stewart</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Zyrus">Charice</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Summer">Donna Summer</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Newton-John">Olivia Newton-John</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna">Madonna</a>, <a href="/biography/mary-j-blige">Mary J. Blige</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson">Michael Jackson</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheryl_Lynn">Cheryl Lynn</a>, and <a href="/biography/barbra-streisand">Barbra Streisand</a>.</p>

<h2>Awards and Recognition</h2>
<p>Foster has received many honors for his contributions to music and culture. Notable accolades include the Order of British Columbia (1995), an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Victoria (1995), the Order of Canada (1998), and an Honorary Doctorate in Music from Berklee College of Music (2002). He was inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame (2002), the Canadian Music Hall of Fame (2007), the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2010), and the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2010). In 2013, Foster received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located near the Capitol Records Building.</p>

<h2>Personal Life and Family</h2>
<p>David Foster has been married four times and is the father of five biological daughters. He also has seven grandchildren. His first marriage was to singer B.J. Cook. He was married to Rebecca Dyer from 1982 to 1986, then to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Thompson">songwriter</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Thompson">Linda Thompson</a> from 1991 to 2005. Foster married his fourth <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yolanda_Hadid">wife</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yolanda_Hadid">Yolanda Hadid</a>, on November 11, 2011, in Beverly Hills. The couple later separated in 2015 and finalized their divorce in 2017.</p>

<h2>Social Media Presence</h2>
<p>Foster maintains an active presence on social media. His official Facebook page is followed by approximately 390,000 users, with over 373,000 page likes. On Twitter, he has around 103,000 followers and has made over 2,000 tweets, further engaging with fans and sharing updates on his career and projects.</p>

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